EWGAE 2010

Vienna, 8th to 10th September

INSPECTION OF THE PRESSURE VESSEL USED IN PETROCHEMICAL

WITH AE EXAMINATION
V.P. GOMERA 1, V.L. SOKOLOV 1, V.P. FEDOROV 1, A.A. OKHOTNIKOV 1, M.S.
SAYKOVA 2
1

Kirishinefteorgsintez, 187110, Kirishi, Russia, Gomera_V_P@kinef.ru,

tel.78136897117, fax 78136891289
2
Central Boilers and Turbine Institute (CKTI), Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Keywords: pressure vessel, complex parameter, lamination, blistering

Abstract
The results of AE test performed within the 5-year period of two pressure vessels are
discussed in this paper. This experience demonstrates the capabilities of AE technique for
condition monitoring of large industrial facility with time evolving metal structure defects. This
approach allows to define the main trends in defect development process and to make a decision
about what kind of inspection should be performed while facility is under operation or
intermittently stopped.
Introduction
The object under observation is the pressure vessel (V=243m3, D=4,200mm, h=23mm) (see
photo, Fig.1), where separation of the mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrofluoric acid is taking
place. As a consequence of the internal environment influence and active operating stresses, the
diffusion of atomic hydrogen is occurring in areas with concentrated tensile stress. The
accumulation of atomic and consequently molecular hydrogen can evoke formation of internal
cavities under the pressure level of several hundred atmospheres. This may be the reason of
vessel structural failure. The hydrogen induced cracking (blistering or HIC) usually takes the
form of cavities (blisters). Sometimes blistering is taking the form of thin stepped cracks inside a
sheet in parallel with the rolling plane. The major factor that determines a tendency of steel to
HIC is the presence of atomic hydrogen collectors within the steel matrix. The blistering forms in
steels contaminated with sulphide inclusions or in steels that have the streaky ferrite-pearlite
matrix.

Fig.1: Vessel for separate the mixture of hydrocarbons and HF acid

(V=243 m3, D= 4200mm, h = 23 mm)
The paper [1] presents some results of the first AE testing of the mentioned vessel after seven
years of operation. Consideration is also given there to characteristics of the steel used in
manufacturing of vessel including results of its metallographic and chemical analysis. It is the

mild steel with streaky ferrite-pearlite matrix insignificantly contaminated with non-metallic
inclusions.
Another paper [2] shows that the principal operational load (internal pressure) usually does
not lead to development of lamination because the stress intensity coefficient does not exceed the
critical value for lamination of any size. The stress intensity coefficient reaches its maximum
with the definite length of lamination and then with increase of this length it decreases. The
internal pressure, however, can evoke the growth of laminations closer to areas of high stress
concentration around welding seams and holes in the shoulder ring. The probability of growth
increases during operation in transient modes, for instance, during startup (or pneumatic tests).
According to the data from non-destructive inspection, the lamination detected as continuous
by UT results actually is the aggregate of closely located relatively small defects [2]. Our
practical experience of AE testing of vessels with laminations confirms this [3]. Normally we
detect lamination signs in the process of big blister buildup in a form of aggregate of multiple AE
events clustered in the area where blister subsequently appears. Usually these events have
relatively low energy characteristics. Afterwards, when a blister is formed (Fig.2), the number of
registered AE events in these areas significantly decreases. For the most part, high-energy events
are occasionally registered and localized on buckle borders. Apparently they are linked to such
rare processes like buckle border movement or formation of long cracks at merging of individual
buckles. The most serious is a defect in the form of crack opening a blister from inside of a vessel
(Fig.3, 4).

Fig.2: Result of lamination's evolution to blister for the soft low carbon steel with
bands "ferrit + perlit" structure having insignificant non-metallic inclusions

Opening the blister

Fig.3: The defect opening the blister in the form of crack on the inner side of the vessel

Fig.4: Transverse cut of the vessels shell in zone of crack opening the blister
Results and discussion
The forecasting of HIC development is considered to be a challenging task, however
according to the data of NK-BP (Fig.5) [4] the number of failures due to HIC sharply increases
with extension of operating life by over 10 years.

Failure, %

50
40

27,1

32,3

36,4

30
20
10

1,4

2,9

< 5 years < 10 years < 15 years < 20 years > 20 years

Fig.5: Dynamics of equipment's failure on HIC reason (data of TNK-BP)

The second AE inspection of the vessel was performed in five years from the first inspection
(and after 12 years of the vessel operation). The major differences in procedures of these two
inspections are the following: 1) number of channels increased from 15 to 27; during the second
inspection probes were installed at the same 15 positions they had been previously during the first
inspection, and also 12 additional probes were installed at new positions (Fig.6); 2) vessel
pressure increase diagram has different appearance (Fig.7).

Fig.6: Results of planar location of AE sources on shell reamer (inner side view)
for 2nd test (P = 0,15 0,6 MPa, V = 330 cm/ms).
positions of sensors during both tests, - positions of sensors during the 2nd
test only

Load, MPa

0,8

2nd test

0,6
0,4

1st test

0,2
0,0

50

100

150

200

250

Time, min

Fig.7: The loading versus time curve during two pneumatic tests
Fig.6 shows results of planar location for the pressure increase interval P = 0.15 0.6 MPa
that is imposed on position of vessel structural parts forming potential areas of stress
concentration (welds and holes). The amplitude filtering is used for AE events. It is possible to
note the overall high AE activity and existence of several clustering areas of high amplitude AE
events.

Fig.8: Results of combination of locations graphics for two tests: - AE sources of

1st test (P=0,13 0,5 MPa), - AE sources of 2nd test (P=0,15 0,6 MPa)
Fig.8 shows the result of imposition of two location diagrams and comparison of position of
AE activity areas (without amplitude filtering). Areas with the highest AE activity are pictured as
outlines on Fig. 9. It can be seen that most high AE activity areas during the second inspection
are typically located in areas with relatively low density of AE sources than during the first
inspection. And, conversely, high AE activity areas from the first inspection during the second
one showed lower number of AE sources. Predominant are the adjacent areas with partial
overlapping at edges.
These results enable to suppose that during the 5-year period activity areas from the first
inspection have stress relaxation with disappearance of local stress concentrators around small
sulphide inclusions. Aggregation of small defects has taken place and significant size laminations
were formed. These laminations have more regular structure than accumulation of multiple small
discontinuities [3]. It defines the response to applied load from the viewpoint of AE testing
results. The process of lamination build-up was registered during the second AE inspection at the
new vessel areas.
Fig.9 also shows areas with no activity recorded neither during the first or second inspection.
In one instance, these are the areas where lamination processes ended prior to the first inspection.
In the other instance these are the areas where there are no conditions for development of
structural defects under impact of loads active during operation. The order of degradation of
different metal areas of the vessel through time is defined by distribution of products with various
corrosive activity within the space of vessel and by location of expanded areas of stress buildup
[1].
Fig.10 presents the result of simulation of interaction of laminations located at various depths
within the middle third of sheet. It is defined that these laminations may join together as a result
of breakthrough of long cracks between their borders, for instance, during startup or any other
sharp pressure increase.
The analysis of condition monitoring data for this vessel allowed making an assumption that
the development of similar cracks could be registered during the AE inspection.

Fig.9: The contours of zones of the highest AE activity for two tests:
- 1 test (P=0,130,5 MPa),
- 2nd test, after 5 year (P=0,150,6 MPa)
st

Fig.10: The result of laminations interaction simulation, located at

the different depth in the middle one third of the sheet
The search for such objects required the application of complex parameter the combination
of several AE signal characteristics (duration, amplitude, and rise time) and their relations with
each other taken with weighted coefficients. Preliminary consideration was given to forms of
distribution of basic characteristics of AE events that fell into location (Fig.11). The presence of
heavy tails in distributions makes possible isolation of AE events that are potentially connected
with the specific type of structural alterations. The parameter was deducted with consideration to

specific type of defect, i.e. very long cracks. The AE testing system employed for the inspection
is the flexible data processing tool, and the mathematical expression for complex parameter was
completely generated with a help of processors included in the system software. In our opinion,
one of the basic principles of operation of this system is in priority of expert decision before
formal computer decision-making technologies. Such feature of the system is specifically useful
in abnormal situations of data analysis, when there are not enough regular criteria available for
assessment of results. An expert can select necessary functions from a wide range of data
processing and presentation means and create arbitrary data analysis routines including his/her
own local criteria tuned to any particular application.

Fig.11: Distributions for characteristics of AE events used in complex parameter in

the 2nd test data analysis

Fig.12 shows the diagram similar to the segment given in Fig.8. This diagram has the added

Fig.12: The combination of locations graphics for shells fragment:

- AE sources of 1st test, - AE sources of 2nd test,
- AE sources of 2nd test with high value of complex parameter
filtering of AE sources using the K5.2 parameter. This enables to visually pinpoint several
groups of sources forming bands or lines that cross new and connect old lamination areas. The
significant number of individual sources with the high value of K5.2 is located between
laminations of various ages.
These findings compare favorably to the preceding AE inspections of objects with
laminations and provide solution to the lamination behavior problem obtained during simulation
study. The complex parameter turned out to be the helpful characteristic for localization of
position of such critical defects as lamination linking cracks. In what follows this significantly
cuts down the scope of utilization of additional NDT techniques intended for determination of
exact defect geometry.
Summary and conclusions
The presented paper shows acoustic emission as the optimal inspection method from the time
saving standpoint for obtaining information about the condition of large sized vessels.
Actually after two AE inspections with the total duration of several hours we obtained the
assessment of the quality of metal approximately for the whole area of shoulder ring; made
correct suggestion about the main type of defects (blistering), compiled the layout of defect
distribution along the shoulder ring; localized the most serious defects and also determined the
main trends in development of the defect system.
Furthermore, it is actually possible to deduct the time of mandatory periodical air leakage
tests from the time of AE testing, since these tests were performed during the mentioned

procedure. The air leakage test time constitutes the significant part of the whole AE testing
procedure.
Specific features of big laminations behavior will probably allow to operate this vessel for
some more time. Our recommendations, however, point to optimal decision in replacement of this
vessel by a new one considering its current condition and the nature of products circulating in it.
The new vessel shall be fitted with permanent monitoring system. In an event of periodic AE
condition monitoring, it is recommended to perform the first testing in 3-4 years after beginning
of operation and follow-up testing every 2-3 years. Prior to replacement of the vessel it is
necessary to inspect the metal at lamination borders defined using AE testing.
Additional results include the data obtained during AE testing that helped to reveal
technological factors initiating the metal degradation process and provided grounds for checking
out the initial quality of metal used in manufacturing of the vessel and other process equipment of
this facility. The metal structure examination has defined that the used steel properties in
combination with process conditions can be the source of problems during operation of some of
these facilities. This became the reason for increase of periodic NDT of all these facilities.
References
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abilities for petrochemical equipment inspection, In: Proceedings of the 26th European
conference on Acoustic Emission Testing, Berlin, 2004,Germany, Vol. I, pp. 131-138.
2. Sudakov A., Danyushevsky I., Saikova M., Accounting of defects during expert appraisal of
industrial safety and operating life of boilers and pipelines: Berg Kollegium, 2 (65), 2010, pp.
20-22.
3. Kabanov B., Gomera V., Sokolov V., Fedorov V., Okhotnikov A., AE Testing of Refinery
Structures, In: Proceedings of the 27th European Conference on Acoustic Emission Testing,
Cardiff, 2006, Wales, UK, pp.133-138.
4. Makarenko V., Gorbunov S., Ogorodnikov V., Bakeev R., Shevtsov V., Causes of failure of
equipment at gas processing plants of Western Siberia: Mechanical Engineering, #8, 2007,
pp. 45-48.